Therapeutic pressing device

ABSTRACT

A pressing medical treatment apparatus ( 10 ) comprises a pressing section ( 55 ) for pressing the back of a human body and a detecting section ( 66 ) for detecting spinous process. The detecting section ( 66 ) includes a pressure sensitive sensor ( 23 ) for detecting spinous process, and it is movable in the plane parallel to the back of the human body by the aid of a guide section ( 21 ). The detecting section ( 66 ) is moved along vertebral column to detect spinous process of seventh cervical vertebra. Respective spinous processes of first to twelfth thoracic vertebras are detected on the basis thereof. A control unit ( 9 ) stores positions of thoracic vertebras corresponding to detection positions of respective spinous processes. The control unit ( 9 ) controls operation of the pressing section ( 55 ) on the basis of the stored position information so that predetermined thoracic vertebra (affected part) is pressed by using a roller ( 5 ). Various symptoms based on any damage of thoracic zygapophyseal joint can be treated in place of a therapist by using the medical treatment apparatus of the present invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a pressing medical treatment machinefor pressing a specified region of a human body. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a pressing medical treatment machine forautomatically detecting a specified position of thoracic vertebra andtreating the cervico-omo-brachial syndrome and the low back pain bypressing the specified position.

BACKGROUND ART

As the diagnostic imaging apparatus is developed, it is now easy todiagnose various diseases. For example, it is possible to easily makediagnosis by using the diagnostic imaging apparatus for lumbarherniation of intervertebral disk, spondylolytic spondylolisthesis,spondylosis deformans, OPLL (Ossification of Posterior LongitudinalLigament), spinal stenosis, neoplasm, and other external injuries. Thecauses of various diseases have been also clarified owing to theutilization of the diagnostic imaging apparatus. For example, it hasbeen revealed that most of the diseases included in the so-called acutelow back pain are caused by occurrence of any rupture in the outer layerof lumbar intervertebral disk due to repeated working and exercise orsmall trauma.

However, there are still diseases for which their causes cannot beclarified even when the diagnostic imaging apparatus is used. Thoseknown as such diseases include, for example, the cervico-omo-brachialsyndrome and the low back pain. There are a variety of symptoms of thesediseases. The symptoms of the cervico-omo-brachial syndrome include, forexample, scapular region pain, headache, facial pain, pain in lateralcervical region, pain in trapezius muscle, shoulder stiffness,tenderness, pain in shoulder, pain in upper arm, pain in forearm, painand numbness in finger, backache, pain in spinous process of thoracicvertebra, intercostal neuralgia, pain in anterior region of neck, stuffup feeling in throat, chest pain, palpitation, tightening pain aroundthoracic vertebral column, pain like fracture of rib, and nuchal pain bysleeping. The symptoms of the low back pain include, for example, painin iliac crest, gluteal region, and sacrum, lumbar myalgia, pain inspinous process of lumbar vertebra, abdominal pain, inguinal regionpain, pain in hip joint, pain in femoral region, pain in knee and lowerleg, bather's cramp, pain in calcaneal region, and pain and numbness indorsal and plantar side of foot.

The present inventor has practiced as a doctor and diagnosed a largenumber of patients having completely different symptoms such as those ofthe cervico-omo-brachial syndrome and the low back pain described above.During this experience, it has been noticed that a tender point (portionat which the pain is caused by being pressed) exists at a definite levelbetween the thoracic vertebra of the human body separately from the painregion complained by the patient. It has been found that this tenderpoint is caused by any subluxation of the zygapophyseal joint (or facetjoint) between the third and fourth vertebras, between the fourth andfifth vertebras, between the tenth and eleventh vertebras, or betweenthe eleventh and twelfth vertebras of the thoracic vertebra due totorsion, i.e., any damage of the zygapophyseal joint of the thoracicvertebra (FIG. 5 shows a side view and a back view of the vertebralcolumn of human body for reference). Further, the tender pointdisappears, and the pain complained by the patient is mitigated byredressing the subluxation of the zygapophyseal joint between the thirdand fourth vertebras, the zygapophyseal joint between the fourth andfifth vertebras, the zygapophyseal joint between the tenth and eleventhvertebras, or the zygapophyseal joint between the eleventh and twelfthvertebras of the thoracic vertebra. Accordingly, it has been found outthat the damage of the zygapophyseal joint of the thoracic vertebra isone of the causes of the cervico-omo-brachial pain and the lumber pain.Especially, the cervico-omo-brachial pain is often caused by thesubluxation of the zygapophyseal joint between the third and fourthvertebras of the thoracic vertebra or the joint between the fourth andfifth vertebras of the thoracic vertebra. Further, the lumber pain isoften caused by the subluxation of the zygapophyseal joint between thetenth and eleventh vertebras of the thoracic vertebra or thezygapophyseal joint between the eleventh and twelfth vertebras of thethoracic vertebra.

The present inventor has made the following medical treatment in orderto redress the damage of the zygapophyseal joint of the thoracicvertebra. At first, the patient is seated on a stable chair. The leftshoulder is fixed by the left hand of the therapist, while examinationis made by touch with the right hand to detect the spinous processes ofthe third to fifth thoracic vertebras or the tenth to twelfth thoracicvertebras. The detected spinous processes of the third to fifth thoracicvertebras or the tenth to twelfth thoracic vertebras are repeatedlypressed several times. The redressment is completed by sensing the clicksound by touch during the pressing treatment.

However, when the number of patients was increased, the present inventorsometimes failed to quickly respond to the requests of all of thepatients, because the present inventor made the medical treatment bymeans of direct redressment by hand. It was indispensable to rely on theexamination by touch by the therapist in order to detect the affectedpart, i.e., the position of the third to fifth thoracic vertebras or thetenth to twelfth thoracic vertebras. Therefore, a skillful technique wasrequired, and it took a long time to perform the medical treatment aswell.

A massage machine is known, which is used to mitigate, for example, theshoulder discomfort and the muscle fatigue by massaging or striking theback of the human body with a pressing member such as a roller and asphere. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-75413discloses a massage machine for measuring hardness of muscle with amuscle hardness meter and detecting a hard region such as stiffness toperform massage in a concentrated manner. However, such a conventionalmassage machine discloses no means for detecting the position of thethoracic vertebra at all. Such a massage machine is used to loosen andmitigate the stiffness and the muscle fatigue, which cannot be appliedto the medical treatment for the cervico-omo-brachial pain and the lowback pain by redressing the damage of the zygapophyseal joint of thethoracic vertebra.

The present invention has been made taking such viewpoints intoconsideration, an object of which is to provide a pressing medicaltreatment apparatus which makes it possible to redress the damage of thezygapophyseal joint of the thoracic vertebra by pressing a specifiedregion of the thoracic vertebra instead of a therapist.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pressing medicaltreatment apparatus which makes it possible to automatically detect aspecified region of the thoracic vertebra so that the specified regionis pressed to treat various symptoms based on the damage of thezygapophyseal joint of the thoracic vertebra.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda pressing medical treatment apparatus having a pressing member forpressing a specified region of a human body, the apparatus comprising:

a measuring unit for measuring at least one position of first to twelfththoracic vertebras;

a pressing member-driving unit for driving the pressing member to pressa back of the human body; and

a control unit for controlling the pressing member-driving unit to pressthe measured thoracic vertebra or vicinity thereof on the basis ofposition information on at least one of the thoracic vertebras measuredby the measuring unit. Accordingly, the specified region of the thoracicvertebra can be detected without any examination by touch to beperformed by a therapist. The control unit controls the operation of thepressing member so that the pressing member is moved to the specifiedregion of the thoracic vertebra to press the specified region on thebasis of the position information on the thoracic vertebra measured bythe measuring unit. Therefore, it is possible to treat a variety ofsymptoms based on the damage of the zygapophyseal joint of the thoracicvertebra in place of the therapist by using the medical treatmentapparatus according to the present invention.

In the pressing medical treatment apparatus of the present invention, itis preferable that the measuring unit for measuring the position of atleast one of the first to twelfth thoracic vertebras includes a spinousprocess detection sensor for detecting a spinous process of the thoracicvertebra. The spinous process detection sensor is a sensor capable ofdetecting the ridge corresponding to the spinous process of the thoracicvertebra at the back of the human body. For example, it is possible touse a pressure sensitive sensor composed of a piezoelectric element. Inview of the object to detect the spinous process, the sensor preferablyhas a shape of a sensor 23 as shown in FIG. 10. The width L of thespinous process detection sensor is desirably about 3 cm considering thefact that the lateral width of the tip of the spinous process is about 1to 1.5 cm, which is about 1.5 to 1.8 cm upon examination by touch viathe body skin, and that many people are observed to have light scoliosisof the vertebral column.

The position of the spinous process of each of the thoracic vertebras isdetermined, for example, as follows by using the spinous processdetection sensor. At first, the spinous process detection sensor isinstalled to a movement unit which is freely movable on the back surfaceof the human body. The neck of a patient is deeply bent frontwardly, andthe spinous process detection sensor is moved from the cervical partalong the vertebral column while making contact to detect the spinousprocess of the seventh cervical vertebra (prominent vertebra). As shownin FIG. 8, the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra is aregion which conspicuously protrudes on the back inclined surface of thecervical part when the cervical part is deeply inclined frontwardly.Accordingly, the spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra iseasily detected by performing the detection while deeply bending theneck of the patient frontwardly as described above. As shown in FIG. 8,the first thoracic vertebra is disposed just under the seventh cervicalvertebra. Therefore, the spinous processes of the first thoracicvertebra, the second thoracic vertebra, the third thoracic vertebra andso forth can be detected by further moving the spinous process detectionsensor downwardly from the position of the spinous process of theseventh cervical vertebra. Thus, it is possible to obtain the positioninformation on the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebra. When thedetection sensor fails to detect all of the spinous processes of thefirst to twelfth thoracic vertebras, the position of the undetectedspinous process of the thoracic vertebra may be estimated by means ofcalculation by using, for example, a calculating unit, on the basis ofthe position information on the successfully detected spinous process ofthe thoracic vertebra. The pressing member-driving unit is controlled bythe control unit on the basis of the obtained position information onthe spinous process of the thoracic vertebra so that the pressing memberis moved to the specified region to be subjected to the pressing medicaltreatment to press the specified region.

It is also preferable that the measuring unit for measuring the positionof the thoracic vertebra further comprises an inferior angle of scapulardetection sensor for detecting inferior angle of scapular. It is easierto measure the positions of the first to twelfth thoracic vertebras bydetecting the position of the inferior angle of scapular by using theinferior angle of scapular detection sensor. That is, as shown in FIG.9, it is known that the spinous process, which is located on the lineobtained by connecting the both inferior angle of scapular (especiallythe centers of the both inferior angle of scapular), approximatelycorresponds to the spinous process of the seventh thoracic vertebra.Therefore, the right and left inferior angle of scapular are firstlydetected by using the inferior angle of scapular detection sensor. Theposition of the spinous process of the seventh thoracic vertebra can bespecified on the basis of the position information on the inferior angleof scapular. The other spinous processes of the thoracic vertebras aredetected by using the spinous process detection sensor described aboveon the basis of the obtained position information on the spinous processof the seventh thoracic vertebra in an order starting from the spinousprocess of the seventh thoracic vertebra, i.e., in an order of thespinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra, the spinous process ofthe fifth thoracic vertebra, the spinous process of the fourth thoracicvertebra and so forth upwardly from the spinous process of the sevenththoracic vertebra, or in an order of the spinous process of the eighththoracic vertebra, the spinous process of the ninth thoracic vertebra,the spinous process of the tenth thoracic vertebra and so forthdownwardly from the spinous process of the seventh thoracic vertebra sothat the respective positions of the spinous processes of the first totwelfth thoracic vertebras may be specified. The positional relationshipbetween the spinous process and the thoracic vertebra will be explainedwith reference to FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the spinous process of thefourth thoracic vertebra protrudes obliquely frontwardly from the fourththoracic vertebra as viewed on the plane of the paper so as to cover thefifth thoracic vertebra disposed just under the fourth thoracic vertebrato which the concerning spinous process belongs. That is, assuming thatthe number of the thoracic vertebra is n, the position of the spinousprocess of the nth thoracic vertebra corresponds to the position of the(n+1)th thoracic vertebra. Therefore, the position of the spinousprocess, which is detected by the spinous process detection sensor,corresponds to the position of the thoracic vertebra disposed just underthe thoracic vertebra to which the concerning spinous process belongs.Accordingly, it is possible to detect the position of each of thethoracic vertebras on the basis of the position information on thespinous process of each of the thoracic vertebras.

It is also preferable that the measuring unit for measuring the positionof the thoracic vertebra includes an iliac crest detection sensor fordetecting iliac crest. By using the sensor, it is also easy to measurethe positions of the first to twelfth thoracic vertebras from theposition of the iliac crest peak (uppermost end portion of the iliaccrest). That is, as shown in FIG. 9, it is known that the spinousprocess, which is located on the line (Jacoby's line) obtained byconnecting the right and left iliac crest peaks, approximatelycorresponds to the spinous process of the fourth lumbar vertebra.Therefore, the both iliac crest peaks are detected by using the iliaccrest detection sensor, and the position of the spinous process of thefourth lumbar vertebra can be specified on the basis of the positioninformation on the detected both iliac crest peaks. With reference tothe obtained position of the spinous process of the fourth lumbarvertebra, for example, the spinous process detection sensor describedabove is used to detect, from the spinous process of the fourth lumbarvertebra, the spinous process of the third lumbar vertebra, the spinousprocess of the second lumbar vertebra, the spinous process of the firstlumbar vertebra, the spinous process of the twelfth thoracic vertebraand so forth upwardly in this order. Thus, the positions of the spinousprocesses of the first to twelfth thoracic vertebras can be specified.As described above, the detected position of the spinous processcorresponds to the position of the thoracic vertebra disposed just underthe thoracic vertebra to which the concerning spinous process belongs.Accordingly, it is possible to specify the positions of the respectivethoracic vertebras from the position information on the spinousprocesses of the respective detected thoracic vertebras. The iliac crestdetection sensor and the inferior angle of scapular detection sensor maybe provided commonly to the spinous process detection sensor. Thus, allof the iliac crest, the inferior angle of scapular, and the spinousprocess may be detected with one sensor.

In the present invention, the back of the human body is preferablypressed along the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebras in adirection from the upper half to the lower half of the human body. FIGS.6 and 7 show a partial magnified back view and a partial magnified sideview of the thoracic vertebras shown in FIG. 5 respectively. As shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, the spinous process protrudes obliquely downwardly fromthe thoracic vertebra bone. Therefore, when the pressing treatment isperformed as described above, the subluxation of the zygapophyseal jointof the thoracic vertebra can be redressed without damaging the spinousprocess of the thoracic vertebra. As described above, one of the causesof the cervico-omo-brachial pain and the low back pain is thesubluxation due to any torsion of the joint between the third and fourthvertebras of the thoracic vertebra, the joint between the fourth andfifth vertebras of the thoracic vertebra, the joint between the tenthand eleventh vertebras of the thoracic vertebra, or the joint betweenthe eleventh and twelfth vertebras of the thoracic vertebra. Therefore,as for the region to be pressed, it is desirable to press the third,fourth, and fifth thoracic vertebras, or the tenth, eleventh, andtwelfth thoracic vertebras. Accordingly, it is possible to redress thesubluxation of the joint between the third and fourth vertebras of thethoracic vertebra, the joint between the fourth and fifth vertebras ofthe thoracic vertebra, the joint between the tenth and eleventhvertebras of the thoracic vertebra, or the joint between the eleventhand twelfth vertebras of the thoracic vertebra. Thus, it is possible tomitigate or eliminate the cervico-omo-brachial pain and the low backpain.

As for the shape of the pressing member, it is preferable to use acolumnar roller 5 provided with a recess 111 on a side wall 110 as shownin FIG. 11, considering the ridge of the spinous process. The medicaltreatment can be performed without damaging the spinous process bypressing the specified region by allowing the recess of the pressingmember having the shape as described above to coincide with the ridge ofthe spinous process. The mutual distance between the right and leftroots of scapular spine indicated by phantom lines in FIG. 9 is 15 cm to16 cm in the case of male, or 13 cm to 14 cm in the case of female. Itis preferable that the pressing member does not contact with the root ofscapular spine when the pressing treatment is performed. Consideringthis fact, it is preferable that the lateral width of the pressingmember is about 12 cm. If a hard material is used for the material forthe pressing member, then the stimulus to the affected part is toostrong upon the pressing treatment, and hence the tension of the backmuscle is not released due to the pain caused thereby. Therefore, thematerial for the pressing member is preferably a material in which atleast its surface is relatively soft. For example, the pressing memberis preferably formed of urethane rubber or sponge.

It is preferable that the pressing medical treatment apparatus of thepresent invention further comprises a support member for supporting thehuman body at a position in front thereof. Accordingly, even when theback of the human body is pressed with the pressing member, it ispossible to avoid the reduction of the pressing force on the back of thehuman body, which would be otherwise caused by the frontward movement ofthe human body. The pressing medical treatment apparatus may furthercomprise a seat section so that the medical treatment is performed in astate in which the patient is seated thereon. The medical treatment inthe seated state is extremely effective on the patient who is difficultto perform the action of supine, recumbency, and standing up and sittingdown. It is also preferable to adopt a form in which the pressingmedical treatment apparatus of the present invention is incorporatedinto a bed, and the medical treatment is performed in a state in whichthe patient is allowed to lie facing upward on the bed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda pressing medical treatment apparatus having a pressing member forpressing a specified region of a human body, the apparatus comprising:

a mark for being attached to the specified region of the human body;

a detecting unit for detecting the mark;

a pressing member-driving unit for driving the pressing member; and

a control unit for controlling the pressing member-driving unit on thebasis of position information on the mark detected by the detectingunit.

In the present invention, the region to be pressed is previouslyspecified by means of examination by touch by a therapist. The mark isaffixed to the specified region, and the mark is detected by using thedetecting unit. The pressing member-driving unit is controlled by thecontrol unit so that the pressing member is moved to the detected markposition, i.e., to the position to be pressed to perform the pressingmedical treatment. More specifically, the region, which causes thecervico-omo-brachial pain and the low back pain, i.e., the position ofthe joint between the third and fourth vertebras, the joint between thefourth and fifth vertebras, the joint between the tenth and eleventhvertebras, or the joint between the eleventh and twelfth vertebras ofthe thoracic vertebra, can be quickly determined by means of theexamination by touch performed by the skillful therapist. The mark isattached thereto. The mark is detected by the medical treatmentapparatus of the present invention. The cervico-omo-brachial pain andthe low back pain can be easily treated by pressing the concerningregion with the pressing member. In the second aspect of the presentinvention, the specified region to be treated (tender point) is detectedby the therapist, and the pressing treatment is performed by thecontrolled medical treatment apparatus. This aspect is effective whenthe tender point is difficult to be found, when a plurality of tenderpoints exist, or when the patient is in a series case. Further, it ispossible to provide a cheap medical treatment apparatus, because thespinous process detection sensor is unnecessary.

Those usable as the mark to be attached to the back of the human bodyinclude, for example, seals composed of a material having aheat-insulating property, seals having a light-reflecting property, andseals composed of a magnetic material. It is desirable that thedetecting unit for detecting the mark is selected in accordance with thecharacteristic of the mark. For example, when the mark has theheat-insulating property, it is preferable to use, as the detectingunit, a sensor such as an infrared ray sensor capable of detecting theheat. When the mark having the heat-insulating property is stuck to thespecified region at the back of the human body, the thermal radiation isdecreased only at the portion of the back of the human body to which themark is attached. Therefore, the mark position, i.e., the specifiedregion can be specified by moving the infrared ray sensor over the backof the human body to detect the portion at which the temperature is low.When the mark to be attached to the back of the human body is the sealhaving the light-reflecting property, for example, an optical detectingunit, which is provided with a light-radiating section and alight-detecting section, is used as the detecting unit. The markposition is preferably specified by detecting the reflected light fromthe mark with the light-detecting section while radiating the light ontothe back of the human body with the light-radiating section. When themark composed of the magnetic material is attached to the back of thehuman body, it is preferable to use, as the detecting unit, a magneticsensor capable of detecting the magnetism. The mark position can bespecified by detecting the magnetism from the mark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a pressing medical treatmentapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic arrangement of a measuring unit for measuringthe position of the thoracic vertebra.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic arrangement of a pressing section for pressingthe back of the human body, of the pressing medical treatment apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic arrangement of a detecting section fordetecting the position of the specified region to be pressed, of thepressing medical treatment apparatus according to the embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 shows views of the vertebral column of the human body as viewedfrom the side and the back.

FIG. 6 shows a partial magnified back view illustrating the thoracicvertebra.

FIG. 7 shows a partial magnified side view illustrating the thoracicvertebra.

FIG. 8 shows a view of the cervical vertebra as viewed from the side ina state in which the neck is bent frontwardly.

FIG. 9 shows a view of the human body as viewed from the back,illustrating the positional relationship between the inferior angle ofscapular and the spinous process of the seventh thoracic vertebra andthe positional relationship between the iliac crest peak and the spinousprocess of the fourth lumbar vertebra.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic perspective view illustrating a preferredshape of a spinous process detection sensor.

FIG. 11 shows a front view and a side view illustrating a columnarroller as a pressing member.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically explainedbelow with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention isnot limited thereto.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a pressing medical treatmentapparatus according to the present invention. The pressing medicaltreatment apparatus 10 principally comprises a main body 1, a shoulderholder 2 attached to the main body 1, and a seating chair 3.

The shoulder holder 2 includes a pair of arms 2 b attached rotatably tobearings 2 c formed on the upper surface of the main body 1, and holdingsections 2 a composed of an elastic member such as urethane rubberinstalled to tips of the arms 2 b respectively. As shown in the drawing,each of the arms 2 b extends horizontally from the main body 1, and thenit is bent downwardly. The holding sections 2 a hold both shoulders of apatient at front positions. Each of the arms 2 b is rotatable about thecenter of the bearing 2 c. The shoulder of the patient is released fromthe holding sections 2 a by rotating the arms 2 b in the lateraldirections of the main body so that the arms 2 b are separated from eachother. Each of the horizontal section and the vertical section of thearm 2 b may have a structure which is expandable in conformity with thebody size of the patient.

The seating chair 3 includes, under its seating surface, a mechanicalexpandable mechanism based on a ball screw or a pneumatic systemcomposed of, for example, a piston and a cylinder. The seating surfaceis vertically movable in conformity with the length of the lower leg ofthe patient.

The main body 1 principally comprises a pressing section 55 for pressingthe back of the human body, a detecting section 66 for detecting theposition of the specified region to be pressed (see FIGS. 2 and 4), acontrol unit (microcomputer) 9 for controlling the operation of thepressing section 55 and the detecting section 66, a guide section 21 formoving the pressing section 55 and the detecting section 66 in a planeparallel to the back of the human body, and a frame 12 on which theguide section 21 is fixed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing section 55 includes a roller 5 forpressing the back of the human body, a piston 51, a pneumatic orhydraulic cylinder 53, and a pressing section-engaging section 57 forsupporting the cylinder 53. The piston 51 includes, at its tip, abearing 51 a for rotatably supporting the roller 5. As shown by phantomlines in the drawing, the piston 51 is expandable from the cylinder 53,for example, in accordance with the hydraulic or pneumatic control. Whenthe piston 51 protrudes from the cylinder 53, the pressing roller 5,which is attached to the tip of the piston 51, urges the back of thehuman body. The affected part can be pressed by moving the pressingsection 55 in a desired direction in this state. For example, the roller5 may be a columnar roller made of plastic or wood approximately havinga diameter of 8 cm and a length of 12 cm. FIG. 11 shows a front view anda side view of a preferred columnar roller 5. The columnar roller 5 ismade of urethane rubber with a recess 111 which is provided in thecircumferential direction on its side wall 110. The pressing treatmentis performed so that the ridge portion corresponding to the spinousprocess coincides with the recess 111. The pressing section-engagingsection 57 is slidably engaged with a guide 21 c as described later on.The pressing section 55 further comprises a friction roller 59 whichmakes rotation while urging the side surface of the guide 21 c. Thefriction roller 59 is rotated by a motor 58 which is secured to theupper surface of the pressing section-engaging section 57. The pressingsection 55 is movable on the guide 21 c in accordance with the rotationof the friction roller 59.

Next, the detecting section 66 will be explained with reference to FIG.4. As shown in FIG. 4, the detecting section 66 comprises a pressuresensitive sensor 23 for detecting the spinous process, asensor-connecting section 61, and a detecting section-engaging section67. The pressure sensitive sensor 23 is composed of a piezoelectricelement. The shape of the pressure sensitive sensor 23 is a rectangularparallelepiped with a front surface section 103 which is a curvedsurface as shown in FIG. 10. The front surface section is a surface tomake contact with the back surface of the human body. The dimension ofthe pressure sensitive sensor 23 is D=1.3 cm×H=1.3 cm×L=3 cm. Thepressure sensitive sensor 23 is capable of detecting the ridgecorresponding to the spinous process of the thoracic vertebra protrudingon the back surface of the human body by being moved while urging theback surface of the human body. The sensor-connecting section 61 may becomposed of a piston and a cylinder as in the pressing section 55 shownin FIG. 3. Accordingly, the sensor-connecting section 61 may beconstructed so that the pressure sensitive sensor 23 is movablefrontwardly or rearwardly with respect to the detecting section-engagingsection 67. The frontwardly movable distance or the rearwardly movabledistance of the pressure sensitive sensor 23 is adjusted with respect tothe detecting section-engaging section 67 so that the pressure sensitivesensor 23 also contacts with the inclined surface of the neck of thepatient when the patient deeply bends the neck frontwardly when thespinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra is detected. Thedetecting section-engaging section 67 is slidably engaged with the guide21 c as described later on. The detecting section 66 further comprises afriction roller 69 which makes rotation while urging the side surface ofthe guide 21 c. A motor 68 for rotating the friction roller is providedon the upper surface of the detecting section-engaging section 67. Thedetecting section 66 is movable on the guide 21 c in accordance with therotation of the friction roller 69.

With reference to FIG. 2 again, the guide section 21 includes a pair ofguides 21 a, 21 b which extend in the direction of the body height ofthe patient (Z direction in the drawing), and a movable guide 21 c whichis movable along the guides 21 a, 21 b and which extends in thehorizontal direction (X direction in the drawing). The movable guide 21c includes sliders 21 d, 21 e which are disposed at both ends thereof.The sliders 21 d, 2le are engaged with the guides 21 a, 21 brespectively, and they are slidable thereon. Each of the sliders 21 d,21 e includes a friction roller and a motor (not shown) as those shownin FIG. 3. The sliders 21 d, 21 e are slidable on the guides 21 a, 21 b.Owing to the arrangement as described above, the movable guide 21 c isfreely movable in the Z axis direction in FIG. 2. The pressing section55 and the detecting section 66 are movable in the X axis direction inthe drawing on the movable guide 21 c by the aid of the friction rollers59, 69 and the motors 58, 68 corresponding thereto. Accordingly, incombination with the movement in the Z direction of the movable guide 21c itself, the pressing section 55 and the detecting section 66 arefreely movable in the X axis direction and the Z axis direction. Thatis, the pressing roller 5 and the pressure sensitive sensor 23, whichare provided on the pressing section 55 and the detecting section 66respectively, are freely displaceable on the back of the patient. Thedisplacement amount and the position can be specified by managing therotation or the stepping amount of the motor 58 of the pressing section55, the motor 68 of the detecting section 66, and the motors of thesliders 21 d, 21 e. Alternatively, an optical encoder may be provided onthe guides 21 a, 21 b, 21 c to detect the positions of the pressingsection 55 and the detecting section 66.

With reference to FIG. 1 again, a backrest surface 11 for making contactwith the back of the patient is provided on one surface of the frame 12of the main body 1. The backrest surface 11 is formed of a cover sheethaving flexibility or elasticity. That is, the back of the patient canbe pressed via the cover sheet by means of the roller 5 of the pressingsection 55, and it can be detected by the aid of the pressure sensitivesensor 23 of the detecting section 66.

The control unit 9 is electrically connected with the cylinder 53 andthe motor 58 of the pressing section 55, the sensor 23 and the motor 68of the detecting section 66, and the motors (not shown) of the sliders21 e, 21 d. The control unit can be used to move the pressing section 55and the detecting section 66 so that the pressing roller 5 and thepressure sensitive sensor 23 installed thereto may be moved to desiredpositions.

The pressing medical treatment apparatus of the present inventionfurther comprises a calculating circuit 25 which is included in the mainbody. The calculating circuit 25 receives a detection signal generatedby the pressure sensitive sensor 23 when the spinous process of thethoracic vertebra is detected, making it possible to estimate anddetermine the position of the undetected spinous process of the thoracicvertebra. The calculating circuit 25 may be incorporated into thecontrol unit 9.

Explanation will be made below for a method for performing the pressingmedical treatment by using the pressing medical treatment apparatus 10constructed as described above. At first, the patient is seated on thechair 3. The both shoulders of the patient are fixed by the shoulderholders 2. Subsequently, the neck of the patient is deeply bentfrontwardly as shown in FIG. 8. The detecting section 66 is moved in thewidthwise direction (X direction) on the back surface of the human bodyin a state in which the pressure sensitive sensor 23 is urged againstthe back of the human body via the cover sheet of the backrest surface11. The movement may be performed such that the detecting section ismoved reciprocatively in the X direction while changing the position inthe Z direction little by little. Accordingly, at least one of thespinous processes of the first to twelfth thoracic vertebras isdetected. The position of the sensor in the X direction, at which thedetection signal is obtained, is read by the control unit, and theposition is stored in the memory in the control unit. The position isthe position of the vertebral column in the X direction of the back ofthe human body. Subsequently, the detecting section is moved onto theinclined surface of the cervical part, while the position in the Xdirection of the detecting section is fixed at the foregoing position.Alternatively, the pressure sensitive sensor 23 may be directly moved tothe center of the cervical part in the X direction, because the positionof the vertebral column (position in the X direction) can be estimatedrelatively easily from the cervical part. The detecting section is movedin the −Z direction, i.e., downwardly along the vertebral column todetect the seventh spinous process of the cervical vertebra. As shown inFIG. 8, the seventh spinous process of the cervical vertebraconspicuously protrudes on the inclined surface of the cervical part.Therefore, the seventh spinous process of the cervical vertebra can bedetected and distinguished from other regions relatively easily. Thespinous process of the first thoracic vertebra exists just under thespinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra. Accordingly, thedetecting section is further moved downwardly to detect the spinousprocess of the first thoracic vertebra, the spinous process of thesecond thoracic vertebra, the spinous process of the third thoracicvertebra and so forth. The positions (X, Z), at which the detectionsignals are obtained, are successively stored with the control unit 9respectively. Accordingly, the positions of the spinous processes of thefirst to twelfth thoracic vertebras are specified. As described above,the position of the spinous process corresponds to the position of thethoracic vertebra disposed just under the thoracic vertebra to which theconcerning spinous process belongs. Therefore, the position informationon the respective spinous processes of the thoracic vertebras is storedagain as position information on the thoracic vertebra disposed justunder the thoracic vertebra to which each of the spinous processesbelongs.

Next, explanation will be made for the operation for pressing thespecified thoracic vertebra or the zygapophyseal joint of the thoracicvertebra as the affected part on the basis of the position of thethoracic vertebra stored as described above. When it is considered thatthe disease of the patient is caused by the damage of the joint betweenthe third and fourth vertebras or the damage of the joint between thefourth and fifth vertebras of the thoracic vertebra, the roller 5 of thepressing section 55 is moved to the stored position of the third andfourth thoracic vertebras. Subsequently, the piston 51 of the pressingsection 55 is allowed to protrude so that the roller 5 is urged towardthe back of the human body. While the roller 5 is urged against the backof the human body at a constant pressure, the movable guide 21 c isslidably moved in the −Z direction, i.e., downwardly to rotate and movethe roller 5 from the position of the third thoracic vertebra to theposition of the fourth thoracic vertebra or from the position of thefourth thoracic vertebra to the position of the fifth thoracic vertebra.When the roller 5 is moved to the position of the fourth thoracicvertebra or the fifth thoracic vertebra, the piston 51 is retracted intothe cylinder 53 so that the urging operation against the back of thehuman body is stopped. The roller 5 is moved again toward the positionof the third thoracic vertebra or the fourth thoracic vertebra, i.e.,upwardly. The pressing medical treatment can be performed for the regionbetween the third thoracic vertebra and the fourth thoracic vertebra orbetween the fourth thoracic vertebra and the fifth thoracic vertebra byrepeating the operation as described above. Accordingly, the torsion ofthe joint between the third thoracic vertebra and the fourth thoracicvertebra or the joint between the fourth thoracic vertebra and the fifththoracic vertebra is redressed. When it is considered that the diseaseof the patient is caused by the damage of the joint between the tenththoracic vertebra and the eleventh thoracic vertebra or the damage ofthe joint between the eleventh thoracic vertebra and the twelfththoracic vertebra, the movable guide 21 c may be slidably moved in the−z direction to move the roller 5 to the position of the tenth thoracicvertebra or the eleventh thoracic vertebra so that the pressing medicaltreatment is performed in the same manner as described above.

Second Embodiment

The inferior angle of scapular is detected by using the same pressingmedical treatment apparatus as the pressing medical treatment apparatusdescribed in the first embodiment to specify the position of the spinousprocess of each of the thoracic vertebras on the basis of the detectedposition of the inferior angle of scapular. In this embodiment,explanation will be made for only a method for detecting the inferiorangle of scapular and a method for specifying the position of thespinous process of each of the thoracic vertebras on the basis of thedetected inferior angle of scapular. The other procedures are the sameas those described in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, at first, the patient is seated on the chair 3, andthe both shoulders of the patient are fixed with the shoulder holders 2,in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Subsequently, thedetecting section 66 is moved in the body height direction (Z direction)on the back surface of the human body in a state in which the pressuresensitive sensor 23 is urged against the back of the human body via thecover sheet of the backrest surface 11. The movement may be performedsuch that the detecting section is moved reciprocatively in the Zdirection while changing the X coordinate position little by little.Alternatively, the following procedure is also available. That is, thereference data XD, which indicates the presence of the inferior angle ofscapular disposed at the position depending on the degree of separationin the X direction from the X coordinate position of the vertebralcolumn on the basis of the body type of the patient, is previouslystored in the memory of the control unit. The reference data XDcorresponding to the body type of the patient is selected from thememory to use it so that the detecting section is moved by XD in the Xdirection from the position of the vertebral column. The detection ofthe position of the inferior angle of scapular in the Z direction isstarted therefrom. In this case, the reference data may function as anelectronic case record, and it may be stored as data for each patient.

Thus, the inferior angle of scapular is detected in accordance with themovement of the pressure sensitive sensor 23. The inferior angle ofscapular protrudes at the right and the left of the back surface of thepatient. Therefore, it is relatively easy to detect and distinguish theinferior angle of scapular from other regions. The control unit 9 readsthe position of the sensor 23, for example, the position (Xk, Zk)(position of the inferior angle of scapular) at which the detectionsignal is obtained. The position is stored in the memory. Subsequently,the spinous process of the thoracic vertebra is detected by moving thedetecting section 55 in the X direction (widthwise direction of thehuman body) while maintaining the detected position Zk in the Zdirection of the inferior angle of scapular. The spinous process is alsodetected with ease, because it is located approximately at the center inthe X direction of the back of the patient. As shown in FIG. 9, it isalready known that the position in the Z direction of the inferior angleof scapular corresponds to the lower end of the spinous process of theseventh thoracic vertebra. Therefore, the spinous process detected inthis procedure can be identified to be the spinous process of theseventh thoracic vertebra.

Subsequently, the spinous processes of the thoracic vertebra aredetected while moving the pressure sensitive sensor 23 upwardly alongthe vertebral column from the position of the spinous process of theseventh thoracic vertebra. The control unit 9 stores the positions (X,Z) at which the detection signal is obtained respectively. That is, inthis case, it is possible to obtain the detection signals in an order ofthe spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra, the spinous processof the fifth thoracic vertebra, the spinous process of the fourththoracic vertebra and so forth. Accordingly, the positions of thespinous processes of the first to seventh thoracic vertebras arespecified.

Subsequently, the spinous processes are detected again while moving thepressure sensitive sensor 23 downwardly along the vertebral column fromthe position of the spinous process of the sixth thoracic vertebra. Thepositions (X, Z), at which the detection signal is obtained, are storedrespectively. The detected spinous processes can be successivelyidentified to be the spinous processes of the eighth to twelfth thoracicvertebras. Therefore, the positions of the spinous processes of theeighth to twelfth thoracic vertebras are also specified. Thus, thepositions of the first to twelfth thoracic vertebras and their spinousprocesses are specified. The position of the spinous process correspondsto the position of the thoracic vertebra disposed just under thethoracic vertebra to which the concerning spinous process belongs.Therefore, the stored position information on the respective spinousprocesses of the thoracic vertebras is stored again as positioninformation on the thoracic vertebra disposed just under the thoracicvertebra to which each of the spinous processes belongs. The specifiedthoracic vertebra or the thoracic zygapophyseal joint, which is theaffected part, is pressed to perform the medical treatment in the samemanner as in the first embodiment on the basis of the respectivepositions of the thoracic vertebras.

Third Embodiment

The iliac crest peak is detected by using the same medical treatmentapparatus as the pressing medical treatment apparatus described in thefirst embodiment to specify the position of the spinous process of eachof the thoracic vertebras on the basis of the detected position of theiliac crest peak. In this embodiment, explanation will be made for onlya method for detecting the iliac crest peak and a method for specifyingthe position of the spinous process of each of the thoracic vertebras onthe basis of the detected iliac crest peak. The other procedures are thesame as those described in the first embodiment.

At first, as shown in FIG. 1, the patient is seated on the chair 3, andthe both shoulders of the patient are fixed with the shoulder holders 2,in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Subsequently, thedetecting section 66 is moved in the body height direction (Z direction)on the back surface of the human body, while changing the X coordinateposition little by little in a state in which the pressure sensitivesensor 23 is urged against the back of the human body via the coversheet of the backrest surface 11 to detect the iliac crest. The iliaccrest protrudes at the right and the left of the lumbar of the backsurface of the patient. Therefore, it is relatively easy to detect anddistinguish the iliac crest from other regions. The control unit 9 readsthe position of the sensor 23, for example, the position (Xn, Zn)(position of the iliac crest) at which the detection signal is obtained.The position (Zn, Zmax) (position of the iliac crest peak), at which thevalue in the Z direction is maximum, is stored in the memory.Subsequently, the spinous process of the lumbar vertebra is detected bymoving the detecting section 55 in the X direction (widthwise directionof the human body) while maintaining the detected position Zmax in the Zdirection of the iliac crest peak. The spinous process is also detectedwith ease, because it is located approximately at the center in the Xdirection of the back of the patient. As shown in FIG. 9, it is alreadyknown that the position in the Z direction of the iliac crest peakapproximately corresponds to the center of the spinous process of thefourth lumbar vertebra. Therefore, the spinous process detected in thisprocedure can be identified to be the spinous process of the fourthlumbar vertebra.

Subsequently, the spinous processes of the lumbar vertebra are detectedwhile moving the pressure sensitive sensor 23 upwardly along thevertebral column from the position of the spinous process of the fourthlumbar vertebra. The control unit 9 stores the positions (X, Z) at whichthe detection signal is obtained respectively. That is, in this case, itis possible to obtain the detection signals in an order of the spinousprocess of the third lumbar vertebra, the spinous process of the secondlumbar vertebra, the spinous process of the first lumbar vertebra and soforth. The bone, which is disposed just over the first lumbar vertebra,is the twelfth thoracic vertebra. Therefore, the detection signal issuccessively obtained for the spinous process of the twelfth thoracicvertebra, the spinous process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra and soforth, as well as the spinous process of the second thoracic vertebraand the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra, while furthermoving the pressure sensitive sensor 23 upwardly. Thus, the positions ofthe first to twelfth thoracic vertebras and their spinous processes arespecified. The position of the spinous process corresponds to theposition of the thoracic vertebra disposed just under the thoracicvertebra to which the concerning spinous process belongs. Therefore, thestored position information on the respective spinous processes of thethoracic vertebras is stored again as position information on thethoracic vertebra disposed just under the thoracic vertebra to whicheach of the spinous processes belongs. The specified thoracic vertebraor the thoracic zygapophyseal joint, which is the affected part, ispressed to perform the medical treatment in the same manner as in thefirst embodiment on the basis of the respective positions of thethoracic vertebras.

Fourth Embodiment

The pressing medical treatment is performed by using the same pressingmedical treatment apparatus as the pressing medical treatment apparatusdescribed in the first embodiment except that an infrared ray sensor isused in place of the pressure sensitive sensor. The infrared ray sensoris provided in the detecting section 66 in place of the pressuresensitive sensor 23 shown in FIG. 2. The infrared ray sensor is movableover the back of the human body, and it is capable of detecting the heatfrom respective regions.

At first, before the pressing medical treatment is performed by usingthe pressing medical treatment apparatus, the region to be pressed onthe back of the human body is specified by means of examination by touchby a therapist. A heat-insulating seal is stuck to the concerningregion. Subsequently, while maintaining the state in which theheat-insulating seal is stuck to the back of the human body, the patientis seated on the chair 3, and the both shoulders of the patient arefixed by the shoulder holders 2, in the same manner as in the firstembodiment. In a state in which the infrared ray sensor is urged againstthe back of the human body via the cover sheet of the backrest surface11, the detecting section 66 is reciprocatively moved in the body heightdirection (Z direction) on the back surface of the human body whilechanging the X coordinate position little by little to detect theportion of the back surface of the human body at which the temperatureis low. The heat-insulating seal is composed of a heat-insulatingmaterial. Therefore, the portion, on which the seal is stuck, is blockedfrom radiation of heat from the human body, and it has a temperaturelower than those of other regions. Accordingly, the concerning portioncan be detected relatively easily. The control unit 9 reads the positionof the infrared ray sensor, for example, the position (Xm, Zm) (positionof the seal) at which the detection signal is obtained. The position isstored in the memory. The pressing member is moved to the storedposition (Xm, Zm) of the seal, i.e., the region specified by thetherapist to perform the pressing treatment. Thus, the pressing medicaltreatment can be performed instead of the therapist.

The embodiments of the present invention have been explained above withreference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, in the second embodiment described above, theinferior angle of scapular and the spinous process of the thoracicvertebra are detected with the same pressure sensitive sensor. However,the inferior angle of scapular may be detected with a sensor having ashape suitable to detect the inferior angle of scapular. In the thirdembodiment described above, the iliac crest and the spinous processes ofthe lumbar vertebra and the thoracic vertebra are detected with the samepressure sensitive sensor. However, the iliac crest may be detected witha sensor having a shape suitable to detect the iliac crest. In thefourth embodiment described above, the mark having the heat-insulatingproperty is detected with the infrared ray sensor. However, a markhaving a light-reflecting property may be detected with an opticaldetector, or a mark composed of a magnetic material may be detected witha magnetic sensor.

The number of the pressing section for pressing the back of the humanbody is not limited to one. Two pressing sections, for example, apressing section for pressing the upper thoracic vertebras (third,fourth, and fifth thoracic vertebras) and a pressing section forpressing the lower thoracic vertebras (tenth, eleventh, and twelfththoracic vertebras) may be provided in the main body. In this case, theback of the human body may be simultaneously pressed with both of therollers, or it may be pressed in a separate manner.

The apparatus may further comprise an image display unit which iscapable of displaying the thoracic vertebra position with an image onthe basis of the position information on the thoracic vertebra obtainedby the measuring unit for measuring the position of the thoracicvertebra, a control circuit which makes it possible to externally inputthe region intended to be pressed so that the pressing medical treatmentis performed, and a timer circuit which makes it possible to set thetime for the pressing medical treatment.

The embodiments described above are based on the use of the roller asthe pressing member. However, there is no limitation thereto. It ispossible to use pressing members having a variety of shapes. In theembodiments described above, the pressing roller is moved on the back ofthe patient by using the guide and the like. However, it is alsopreferable to use a plurality of fixed type pressing members. Forexample, a plurality of pressing members, which are capable of makingprotrusion toward the back of the patient, are arranged in a grid-shapedconfiguration over the back surface so that the pressing membercorresponding to the specified region is allowed to make protrusion.Alternatively, the spinous process detection sensor, the inferior angleof scapular detection sensor, the iliac crest detection sensor, and/orthe infrared ray sensor may be incorporated into the pressing memberitself.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The pressing medical treatment apparatus of the present invention isprovided with the measuring unit which makes it possible to measure theposition of the thoracic vertebra by detecting at least one of thespinous process of the cervical vertebra, the spinous process of thethoracic vertebra, and the spinous process of the lumbar vertebra.Therefore, the specified region of the thoracic vertebra can beautomatically detected without relying on the examination by touch bythe therapist. The control unit controls the operation of the pressingmember so that the pressing member is moved to the specified region ofthe thoracic vertebra to press the concerning region on the basis of theposition information on the thoracic vertebra measured by the measuringunit. Therefore, it is possible to treat a variety of symptoms based onthe damage of the zygapophyseal joint of the thoracic vertebra by usingthe medical treatment apparatus of the present invention in place of thetherapist.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pressing medical treatment apparatus having apressing member for pressing a specified region of a human body, theapparatus comprising: a measuring unit adapted to measure at least oneposition of first to twelfth thoracic vertebras; a pressingmember-driving unit adapted to drive the pressing member to press a backof the human body; and a control unit which controls the pressingmember-driving unit to press the measured thoracic vertebra or vicinitythereof on the basis of position information on at least one of thethoracic vertebras measured by the measuring unit.
 2. The pressingmedical treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the measuringunit includes a spinous process detection sensor adapted to detect atleast one spinous process selected from spinous process of cervicalvertebra, spinous process of thoracic vertebra, and spinous process oflumbar vertebra, while urging a cervical part or a back surface of thehuman body.
 3. The pressing medical treatment apparatus according toclaim 2, further comprising a calculating unit adapted to calculate anddetermine a position of other spinous process or thoracic vertebra onthe basis of a position of the detected spinous process.
 4. The pressingmedical treatment apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the spinousprocess detection sensor is adapted to measure a position of at leastone of first to twelfth thoracic vertebras by detecting spinous processof seventh thoracic vertebra.
 5. The pressing medical treatmentapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the measuring unit adapted todetermine a position of thoracic vertebra further comprises an inferiorangle of scapular detection sensor adapted to detect inferior angle ofscapular.
 6. The pressing medical treatment apparatus according to claim5, wherein a position of spinous process of seventh thoracic vertebra isdetermined from signals indicating respective inferior angle of scapularpositions detected by the inferior angle of scapular detection sensor,and positions of the respective thoracic vertebras are determined on thebasis of the position of the spinous process of the seventh thoracicvertebra.
 7. The pressing medical treatment apparatus according to claim2, wherein the measuring unit adapted to determine a position ofthoracic vertebra further comprises an iliac crest sensor adapted todetect iliac crest.
 8. The pressing medical treatment apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein a position of spinous process of fourthlumbar vertebra is determined from signals indicating respective iliaccrest positions detected by the iliac crest detection sensor, andpositions of the respective thoracic vertebras are determined on thebasis of the position of the spinous process of the fourth lumbarvertebra.
 9. The pressing medical treatment apparatus according to claim2, further comprising a storage unit adapted to store thoracic vertebraposition information for each patient therein.
 10. The pressing medicaltreatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one ofthe thoracic vertebras is third, fourth, or fifth thoracic vertebra ortenth, eleventh, or twelfth thoracic vertebra.
 11. The pressing medicaltreatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pressing isperformed in a direction from an upper half of the body to a lower halfof the body along vertebral column.
 12. The pressing medical treatmentapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a support memberadapted to support the human body against the pressing effected by thepressing member.
 13. The pressing medical treatment apparatus accordingto claim 1, further comprising a seat section having an adjustableheight, wherein a pressing medical treatment is performed in a state inwhich the human body is seated thereon.
 14. A pressing medical treatmentapparatus having a pressing member adapted to press a specified regionof a human body, the apparatus comprising: a storage unit adapted tostore thoracic vertebra position information for each patient therein; apressing member-driving unit which drives the pressing member to press aback of a human body; and a control unit which controls the pressingmember-driving unit so that spinous process of the thoracic vertebra ispressed on the basis of the thoracic vertebra position informationstored in the storage unit.
 15. A pressing medical treatment apparatushaving a pressing member adapted to press a specified region of a humanbody, the apparatus comprising: a mark attachable to the specifiedregion of the human body; a detecting unit which detects the mark; apressing member-driving unit which drives the pressing member; and acontrol unit which controls the pressing member-driving unit on thebasis of position information on the mark detected by the detectingunit.